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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17777 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 98 of them this year alone and, so far, 23 this month (Feb.8).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Tue 11: Steve Summers Quintet @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm.

Wed 12: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Jam session @ The Tannery, Gilesgate, Hexham. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.
Wed 12: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 12: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 13: Student Performances @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 4:00pm. Free. Inc. Olly Styles (tenor sax).
Thu 13: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: Artist Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Hannabiell & Midnight Blue.
Thu 13: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 14: John Rowland Trio @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 12:30-1:30pm. £5.00. at the door. New second Friday in the month concert series.
Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:00-6:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 14: Archipelago + Anna Tempest @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £8.00.
Fri 14: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm. Rhythm & blues.
Fri 14: Alexia Gardner Quintet @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm.
Fri 14: Jazz Sabbath @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 15: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 15: James Birkett & Emma Fisk @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 7:30pm. £15.00. at the door; £14.35. (inc £0.35 bf) online, in advance.
Sat 15: Elkie Brooks @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 7:30pm. ‘The Long Farewell Tour’.
Sat 15: Milne Glendinning Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 16: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sun 16: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 16: MOBO Awards Fringe 2025: BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Gateshead. 6:00pm. Free (ticketed). Line-up inc. Jambone, Knats, Rivkala, SwanNek.
Sun 16: The Shayo Experience @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 16: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 16: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 17: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 17: Russ Morgan Quartet @ The Black Bull, Blaydon. 8:00pm. £10.00.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Hand to Mouth: Lindsay Hannon & Bradley Johnston @ Jazz Café. October 28

Lindsay Hannon (vocals) & Bradley Johnston (guitar)
(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
Earlier, Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang visited the Lit & Phil, this evening Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass played a concert set at the Jazz Café. World class jazz in Newcastle! The little matter of Emma Fisk and James Birkett reworking the music of the 1920s master musicians, and later Lindsay Hannon and Bradley Johnston exploring Ella’s definitive take on the Great American Songbook didn’t dissuade the discerning. The ‘house full’ signs were dusted off, this was to be a memorable day, and, for good measure, a brief visit to the Vermont Hotel to hear two of the best in the business.
Ella/Lindsay in evening wear, Joe/Brad in funeral director’s suit. Ms Hannon said they had been rehearsing the material. We were to find out this had indeed been the case. A bossa opener – Dindi then The One I Love (Belongs to Someone Else), yes, this was all, and more, that the front row had been hoping for.
Those drinking in the back row were remarkably attentive – a testament to the music on offer. Ella was known for forgetting a lyric from time to time, not our Lindsay. Ne’er a  lyric sheet in sight, the Jazz Café (old and new) habitué impressed singing word perfect and including some rarely heard verses for good measure. Joe was known as the master accompanist with a predilection for the hard stuff (legal or otherwise). Brad is a present day master accompanist without a ‘jazz’ vice (it’s early days!). The Gershwins’ A Foggy Day in London/Newcastle Town heard Lindsay deliver a marvelous near-whisper foggy vocal. Brad sat with guitar held at an angle uncannily reminiscent of Joe Pass. Not since the emergence of Martin Taylor has there been a more promising talent likely to assume the mantle of the legendary American.

Stormy Weather, That Old Feeling, Autumn in New York – classic recordings all, Lindsay and Brad paid due respect with our vocalist’s distinctive phrasing intact yet respecting the cannon. Interval chatter focused on just how good the first set had been; the arrangements and the studied interpretations.

Second set highlights – the set was a highlight! – included Lindsay’s magical enunciation of One Note Samba, Brad’s blues on the Razaf/Redman staple Gee, Baby, A’int I Good to You? and West Coast Blues. On this evidence, Hand to Mouth could well have gigs going on the East Coast and the West Coast. Expect to hear Ella/Lindsay and Joe/Brad again.

Earlier, a flying visit to the Vermont Hotel to catch up with Ruth Lambert and Alan Law didn’t disappoint – as if! A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Stella by Starlight then I Thought About You. The GAS book just keeps on giving.  
Russell.                

1 comment :

internationalpartygirl said...

Wow ... fab fab review ... sad I missed this. .well done Lindsay and Bradley :-) xx

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